from my experience, early on in my research, a woman could register the father's name. This does not mean the father would recognise it, and may even get away with it at court presentments. So father could be named and yet publicly deny it. Also,clergy were quite happy to write down 'illegitamate' on baptism registration.

I often think, when researching genealogy, the words of the Lance Percival song, many years ago, of Shame and Scandal in the Family may hold true more than any of these records can ever show!